Science
12.3 MILLION
adults in the US seriously considered, 3.5 million made a plan for suicide in 2021 (according to CDC data)
49,449
people died by suicide in the US in 2022, up by about 2.6% compared to 2021 (according to CDC data)
105,879
drug overdose deaths in the US for the 12-month period ending September 2023 (according to CDC data)
These statistics reveal a concerning rise in the mental health crisis, emphasizing the need for new approaches. This brings us to Ketamine’s potential as an innovative therapy, promising new hope and bridging the gap between conventional treatments and the urgent need for more effective solutions.
UNDERSTANDING KETAMINE
Ketamine received its initial FDA approval in 1970 and was primarily recognized as an anesthetic medication at the time. It quickly found use in medical settings, including battlefield applications during the Vietnam War, due to its rapid onset, short duration of action and exceptional safety profile. In recent years, ketamine has gained attention for its potential in mental health treatment, particularly for mood disorders such as depression, PTSD and anxiety. Unlike traditional antidepressants, the effects of ketamine can often be observed quickly, making it a valuable option for individuals who have not responded well to other treatments.
HOW IT WORKS
Ketamine distinguishes itself from traditional psychotropic medications by not only alleviating mental health symptoms but also promoting healing and regeneration within the brain. It acts primarily by inhibiting NMDA receptors associated with the neurotransmitter glutamate, which plays a key role in enhancing neuronal communication, neuronal connections (plasticity), and learning. This inhibition also enhances the effects of other neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, widening ketamine’s therapeutic scope as a single drug therapy. Additionally, ketamine temporarily deactivates and suppresses our default mode network (DMN) —a network of neurons and regions in the brain thought to play a crucial role in self-referential thinking, social cognition, and the processing of internal thoughts and feelings. An overactive DMN is linked to rumination—persistent negative thought patterns that can exacerbate anxiety and depression. By temporarily deactivating the DMN, ketamine helps disrupt these cycles, fostering creativity and offering new perspectives. Interestingly, low dose ketamine has also been shown to reduce neuronal inflammation in the brain, addressing another key factor in the treatment of mental health disorders. Most recently, racemic ketamine (another name for ketamine commonly used in clinical settings, which is a mixture of naturally occurring S-ketamine and R-ketamine molecules) was shown to support the survival of neurons by promoting myelination. Myelin is a fatty sheath that surrounds the nerve cell, protects it from damage and enhances its function, activity and survival. This represents a significant advancement, as it aims to explain why the positive mood changes and adaptive behaviors triggered by ketamine can persist over time. It emphasizes ketamine’s capacity to enhance neuronal survival and reinforce newly established connections in the brain. Overall, ketamine (also known as racemic ketamine) is a multifaceted medication suggesting significant promise for the treatment of various mental health disorders.
LATEST RESEARCH
Ketamine found effective in treating severe depression: Had no major side effects compared to electroconvulsive therapy, considered the ‘gold standard’ treatment
In a clinical trial of 403 patients, Massachusetts General Brigham investigators found that 55 percent of those who received ketamine treatment experienced a sustained improvement in depressive symptoms without major side effects. Read the whole article here.
How Ketamine Drug Helps with Depression: Yale psychiatrists, pioneers of ketamine research, shed light on esketamine
On March 5, 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first new medication for major depression in decades. The drug is a nasal spray called esketamine, derived from ketamine—an anesthetic that has made waves for its surprising antidepressant effect. Read the whole article here.
How Ketamine Drug Helps with Depression: Yale psychiatrists, pioneers of ketamine research, shed light on esketamine
Ketamine was originally approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an anesthetic but is increasingly being used to treat mood disorders, such as treatment-resistant depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).1,2 Several studies have also found it to be effective for treating suicidal ideation. Read the whole article here.